Sealing plug and applying means therefor



March 3, 1931. l EDAR Y 1,794,369

SEALING PLUG AND APPLYING MEANS THEREFOR Filed Dec. 50, 1927 2 IINVEIIVTOR.

BY Z

WWW

ATTORNEYS.

atented as. r 3, 19 31 i ii ETE STATE i GEORGE EDGAR, 0F PENSACOLA, FLORIDA.

SEALING PLUG AND APPLYING MEANS THEREJFGR Application filed December 30, 1927. Serial No. 243,603.

This invention relates to a plug for use in connection with t'ube boilers and by means of which an effective seal is provided.

It is an object of the invention to furnish a device of this character which may be manipulated to quickly seal a leak after the latter is located and without the necessity of cooling off the boiler in order to permitof a temporary repair being effected. A-further object of the invention is that of furnishing a plug which may be introduced either through the fire door or back connection of a boiler without it being necessary that the fire of the latter be quenched, the invention also contemplating a provision whereby the pingi may be effectively positioned and app 1e An additional-object is that ofprovidinga device of this type, the parts of which will be few in number and individually simple and rugged in construction, these parts being capable of ready assembly to furnish a plug which will be ready for virtually instant use and which will eiiiciently fulfill its purpose until permanent repair may be efiected.

With these and further objects in mind reference is had to the attached sheet of drawings in which Figure 1 is asectional side View of one form 0 of plug andwrench embodying the improved construction of the present invention,

Fig. 2 is arear end View thereof showing the wrench removed.

Fig. 3 is a forward end view of the plug. Fig. 4: is an exploded perspective view'of the several plug'parts, and 3 Fig. 5 is a fragmentary sectional side View of the rear end of the expanding member with a slightly different form of wrench than that shown in Fig. 1 applied thereto.

According to the present invention it is proposed, preferably, to employ a spool upon which a sleeve or body of packmg, or sealing material as,-for example, asbestos, is disposed and which is expanded into sealing contact with the rupture of, for example, a boiler tube and, in order that the plug of the present invention may be employed to seal a leak at any desired point throughout the length of the tube, this plug will, in its normal condition, be freely shiftable thrpughout the tube.

To this end aspoolis preferably employed which, as shown, is formed of four arcuate segments each comprising .a body 10 and a quadrantal end flange 1 1,; the bodies being thickened towards the flange portions and, when assembled, providing, in aggregate, a cylindrical mounting member with a substantially circular endflan e and havin .a ta pered, screw-threaded bore 12. With the parts thus arrangeda sleeve 13 is disposed thereon. As afore stated this sleeve may be formed of asbestos or any other suitable material having sealing qualities. This sleeve may be held in position by employing a retaining member in association with the spool body. To this end plates 14. may be utilized secured, one to each of the arcuate segments 10, by means, for example, of screws 15 extending through bores in the plates and into tapped and threaded openings formed at the rear ends of the spool sections.

Thus, it will be apparent that a plug is formed which comprises a mounting member upon which there is carried a body of sealing 75 material having a diameter larger than the fiangesof the mounting memberand such di ameter being less than the diameter of a standard tube with which the plug is to cooperate. It is furthermore apparent that if the sections of the spool bodyare forced outwardly, they will expand the sleeve 13 into sealing contact with the walls of a tube.

With a view to effecting such expansion a tapered spindle 16 is employed which is formed with threads corresponding to, the threads 12 and the tapering of which is at the same angle as the tapering of the spool bore. Accordingly, it will be obvious that, with the parts in the position shown in Figure'l, a unit member encircling the same and formed of.

several parts to be forced outwardly by such spindle and a sleeve of packing or sealing material in turn associated with the mounting member and which sleeve will be forced into sealing contact with a surface, upon being expanded, incident to the outward movement of the parts of the spool. I

In order to move the spool parts in this manner, the spindle mayhave an irregular .or, as shown, a squared shank 17 which, as in Figure 1, is formed with an interiorly threaded bore 18. A socket wrench, including a stem or handle portion 19, terminates in a socket shaped to conform to theshank and the handle or stem portion 19'ishollow to receive a rod 21 which has one of its ends threaded, s at 22, for engagement with the threads 6? the bore 18.. Obviously, if the handle portion 19 is turned and the plug is retained against movement, the spindle will move inwardly, thus expanding the spool sections in order to effect the desired result. Likewise, if the spindle is turned in an opposite direction relative to the plug, the latter will contract and if the plug is tobe shifted longitudinally, no accidental detachment of the spindle from the wrench will follow,'in that this will be prevented by the rod 21.

. In Figure 5 the head 17 of the spindle has 7 been shown as being formed with recesses 23 which may be engagedby a spring-pressed detent member 24 associated with the wrench 25. In this form of device it willbe understood, likewise, that a turning of the wrench will expandor contract the plug parts, but

that a detachment of the plug from the wrench; will not follow, under ordinary circumstances, incident to the retaining means employed. If, however, the plug is expanded into frictional and sealing contact with, for

example, a tube, it will be obvious that such detachment may be effected readily.

Obviously, a plug of this nature may be employed in numerous different associations. However, its value will be particularly apparent in connection with marine boiler work.

r be used and they may, if desired, be posi-.

If;-in such an installation, a tube springs a leak, it is not necessary that a ship remain idle for oneor two days in order to' cool ofl:' the boiler.- Instead, a temporary repair may be effected while the boiler pressure remains up. Obviously, any desired number-30f plugs may tioned one beyond, and the other in advance of the leak in orden to seal that portion of the tube which has become damaged; the remain- .der,o r at least that end of the tube adjacent the fire draft, still acting asa heating surface. r

Thus, among others, the objects specifically aforementioned are achieved. It will beurlderstood that numerous changes in construction, re-arrangement of the parts and the character of materials employed, etc., might be varied in numerous aspects without departing from the spirit of the invention as defined by the claims.

Having described my invention, claim as new and desire to secure by'Let-ters Patent is:

1. A plug including a sleeve of packing material, a spool for mounting the same," flanges at one end of said spool,.flange portions removably secured to the other end of said spool and means for expanding said spool. 2. A device of the character described including, in combination, a sealing body, an expansible spool within said body, a core having screw threaded connection with said spool and to expand the same together with what 1' 9 said sealing body, a wrench, cooperatin surfaces forming a part of said wrench an core whereby'the latter may be rotated with respect to said spool to eifect expansion of the latter, and means independent of such cooperating surfaces for preventing an accidental detachment of said wrench from said core.

3. A device of the character described including, in combination, a sealing body, an

expansible .spool within said body, a core 5 having screw threaded connection with said spool and to expand the same together with said sealing body, a wrench, cooperatin surfaces forming a part of said wrench an core whereby the latter may be rotated with respect to said spool to effect expanslon of the latter, said core being formed with a screw threaded recess and a screw'thr'eaded rod associated with said wrench and extending into said recess to prevent an accidental detachment of said wrench from said core.

4. A device of the character described in cluding, in combination, a plurality of armate segments providing in aggregate a spool having a screwthreaded bore, a sleeve of no whereby upon relative rotation being 'effected, the segments of-said spool' will move outwardly to expand said sleeve, means for effecting relative rotation of said spindle and. Spool, .and'flange portions forming parts of short of the periphery of said sleeve to retain the latter againstdisplacement with respect a to said spool. a

' 5. A device ofthe character described including, in combination, a'plurality of arcuate segments providing in aggregate a spool having a screw threaded bore,'a. sleeveaof packing material enclosing said segments to retain the same in assembled relationship, a

screw threaded spindle, said spindleand-bore i said spool segments and extending. to'a point weeeee I presenting cooperating tapered smfeees whereby upon relative retetion being effected the seems ef seifl 001 w move ou nwerdly to expen& sew sleeve, means for efiecting Teletive retetien of said spindle and spool, enfi removable flange portions asseeimed with seid spool segments to prevent Rongitufinel movement of said; sleeve with respect i seifi spool,

In tesfiimony whereof 1 iii: 1110 si nature GEQRGE G. 

